Hand Tracking, Finger Identification, and Chordic Manipulation on

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Abundant thanks go to my adviser, John Elias, whose fond support, daily
teamwork, <strong>and</strong> unfathomable hardware know-howgave me a unique foundation upon
which to compose a dissertation.
Dr. Neal Gallagher, for inviting me to Delaware, ensuring my research in
the Electrical Engineering Department <strong>and</strong> other parts of campus was always fully
supported, o ering weekly spiritual advice, <strong>and</strong> challenging me with proclamations
of what could <strong>and</strong> could not be done. May he continue to carry his wisdom all
across the country.
Dr. Charles Boncelet, Dr. Kenneth Barner, <strong>and</strong> Dr. John Scholz, for sug-
gesting many helpful revisions to this manuscript.
Dr. Phillip Christie, for many fascinating lectures, <strong>and</strong> for challenging me to
nd the principles behind my inventions.
Dr. Rakesh, for making me write <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong> mathematical proofs until
they all look trivial.
Chris Thomas, foramostenduring friendship.
My piano teachers Beverly Stephenson <strong>and</strong> Ruth Anne Rich, for inspiring me
with what the h<strong>and</strong>s can do on a properly responsive instrument.
My typing assistants, Sarah Ruth Budd, Sara Levin, Mark Parsia, Denise
Lemon, Barbara Westog, my sister Ellen, <strong>and</strong> my mother Bessie, for helping me to
continue to program <strong>and</strong> publish for the past four years as I perfected less fatiguing
methods for data entry.
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